Nepal's New Map: Part of constitution?? and India's concerns.

Note: The source of discussion is based on sources available on internet, and various media reports covered.

Nepal's new map: India's concern.

The upper house of nepal parliament passed the second constitution amendment bill in the parliament, that claimed the indian territory in Pithoragarh district, which is the part of india as facts shown in British documents. The process of passing the bill which was cleares unanimously by lower house Pratinidhi sabha was fast tracked. President vidhya devi bhandari signed bill in her official resident, Shital Niwas.

May 8, India inaugurated the Darchula- Lipulekh link road, nepal immediately protested, saying the road violated the status quo of the region, which is, according to nepal's imagination, described as "unresolved".

What is dispute over?

1. The new map includes Lipulakh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, territories that india controls.
2. the territory dispute stems from the fact that nepal claims the land to the east of river kali, which forms its western border.
3. As per kathmandu's understanding, the river originates from Limpiyadhura in the higher himalays.
4. it is thus said to give nepal access to the some what triangular shaped land defined by limpiadhura- lipulekh and kalapani.
5. india opposes the notion and says the origin of the river is much further down(to the east), which reduces the nepal's territorial demands.

what is recent set off?

1. While the issue is old one, it isresurfaced in 2019.
2. In, 2019, new delhi published new political maps to reflect some changes.
3. this was following the decision on 5 august 2019 to reorganised the status of Jammu & kashmir.
4. nepal objected to this depection of disputed territory.

How are the rejoinder?

1. In 2000 and 2014, India and nepal agreed to hold talks about kalapani and susta, without much success.
2. susta is village near bihar on which both india & nepal stake claim.
3. matter became worse when india's defence minister inaugurated a surfaced road over the kalapani territory.
4. When nepal protested, India ARMy Chief, suggested it was at the "Behest" of china.
5. lack of diplomatic manoeuvring to allow a step back from the tensions is primarily widening the rift.
6. New delhi contends that it was willing to discuss matters "At a mutually convenient date".
7. The india MEA said kalapani talks could wait until both countries had dealt with the coronovirus pandemic first.
8. For India, the timng with India china border stand off further adds to the belief that oli is backed by Beijing.

How does future looks?

1. Regardless of the accusation's on who is more responsible for the downslide in the ties, nepals quick move on the amendment leaves little space for diplomacy now.
2. the fact that the vote was unanimous implies the futility on the india's part to portray Mr. Oli alone as wholly responsible.
3. the Oli's govt seeks to build its legacy by overturning wgat it calls "unequal" agreements made by the earlier monarchy.
4. In turn it could cause a security nightmare for india, if nepal opens up other parts of their long boundary.
5. Both sides should cooperate to the preserve the once celebrated "special" relationship between India and nepal.